Soap-holder for tubs



(No Model.) Y

E. H. LOBDELL.

SOAP HOLDER POR TUBS. No. 601,662.; Patented Apr. 5, 1898.

-secured thereto .in any other manner.

. NNE@ STATES EMONS II. LOBDELL, OF MEOOSTA, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-Tl-IIRDS TO H. R. W'ALKER AND ROBERT O. SMITH, OF IONIA, MICHIGAN.l

SOAP-HOLDER FOR TUBS.

SPECIFICATION forming* part 0f Letters Patent N0. 60`1,662,"dated April 5, 1898. Application filed April'SO, 1896. Renewed September 22, 1897. Serial No. 652,640. (No model.)

T0 CLU whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMoNs H. LoBDnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Meu costa, in the county of Mecosta and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Soap-Holder for Tubs, of which the following is a specification. Y

The invention relates to improvements in soap-holders for tubs or similar vessels.

The object'of the present invention is to improvethe construction of soap-holders and to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one which will be adapted to be readily mounted on the exterior of a tub or similar vessel and which will be capable of being compactly folded against the side of a tub when not in use. A

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l isa perspective view of a soap-holder constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to a tub. Fig. 2 is a transversesectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the soap-holder in open position. Fig. 4 is a similar View of the holderframe. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view on the line X X, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the soap-shelf.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a washtub or similar vessel formed of any suitable material and provided with the usual hoops 2. At any desired point on the eXterior of the tub 1 and near the top thereof is located a soap-holder attachment 3, which soap-holder attachment is formed of any suitable material and comprises a U shaped frame 4, which may be riveted to the tub or Depending from the frame 4 is a securing-strip 5, which strip is provided at its face adjacent to the tub 1 with notches 6. These notches 6, as is'clearly illustrated, are of a greater length than the width of the hoops and are placed immediately over such hoops in order that the latter may vt therein and thus be supported against displacement from the tub. At suitable intervals throughout the length of the strip 5 openings are formed, through which pass screws or their equivalents for thepurpose of rigidly attaching said strip to the tub. The strip 5 may either be formed integral with the frame 4 or separate therefrom,

and when constructed as a single piece it will be obvious that the same may be applied without the soap-holder. It will also be seen that similar strips 5 may be located at suitable points on the outside of the tub, thereby securely holding the hoops thereof in the eventthat the tub contracts or shrinks.

The vertical arms of the frame 4 are provided at the inner faces thereof with inclined grooves 7, which grooves extend throughout the length of the same to a point near the upper end, where they intersect a cut-outportion 8 for a purpose to be presentlydescribed. The upper end of each of the vertical arms of the frame 4 adjacent to the' cut-out portion 8 is provided with an inwardly-extendin g lug 9, having a curved end 10, andsaid vertical arms opposite to the cut-out portion 8 are also provided with supports 11, upon which rests a removable shelf l2 when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 3. The shelf 12 consists-of a body portion 13, having Iianges 14 projecting from one of its faces and adapted to retain the soap thereon, and one of said lianges at its ends has extensions 14, which may engage the curved ends 10 of the inwardly-extending lugs 9 for the purpose of preventing the shelf 12 being displaced from the supports 11. The ends of the shelf 12 are beveled to conformvto the inclined grooves 7, and such beveled ends are disposed in said grooves when the holder is closed, the shelf being secured therein by the supports 1l.

The shelf v12 has a finger-cleat 15, by which the same may be forced upwardly through the grooves 7, and adjacent to said fingercleat 15, at one side of the shelf, a lockingnotch 16 is formed, whichnotch receives a spring 17, secured to the lower side of the frame 4 and adapted to hold the lower end of the shelf 12 within said frame.

From the foregoing the advantages of the herein-described improvements will be readily seen byl those skilled in the art. `The IOO shelf 12 is drawn through the grooves 7 un-til its lower end arrives at the cut-out portion 8, and said shelf is then lowered to a horizontal position, when the extensions 14a of the flange 14 engage with the curved ends l0 of the lugs 9. Thus it will be seen that the said shelf rests upon the supports 11, which hold the same, and the soap used in washing may be placed thereon without liability of such soap continually falling into the water of the tub. For conducting any water which may fall upon the shelf 12 therefrom said shelf is provided with a drain-spout 1S, which enters a p passage 19, formed in the side of the tub,when the shelf 12 is in the position shown in Fig. 3. By means of the passage19 any water upon the shelf will easily be drained from the same into the tub,` and when the shelf is closed, as in Fig. 1, the drain-spout 18 enters a socket 2O formed in the lower side of vthe frame 4.

While I have described the improvements p as applied to a washtub, it Willbe understood that the same may be employed with washing-machines, sinks, washstands, and similar vessels or receptacles. Should the vessels shrink, vas frequently is the case in warm weather,^` the hoops thereof may be forced upwardly, the length of the notches 6 permitting such movement, when said hoops will remain upon the vessel and be securely held thereon, v Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is,-w

1. A soap-holder attachment comprising a U-shaped frame the sides of, which are prof vided with inclined grooves and having a cutout portionv near the upper end thereof, inwardly-extending lugs formed integral with said sides and provided with curved ends,

supports also formed integral with said sides and opposite to the cut-out portion, aremovlable shelf sliding in the inclined grooves and provided with flanges adapted t'o retain the soap on the shelf, one of said flanges being adapted to engage with the curved ends of the inwardly-projecting lugs to retain the shelf upon said supports, said shelf also having a locking-notch, and a spring secured to the lower side of the frame and adapted to engage with the locking-notch, substantially as A set forth. f

2. A soap-holder attachment comprising a U-shaped frame, the sides of which are provided with inclined grooves and having a cutoutportion near the upper end thereof, in-

i wardly-extending lugs formed integral with said sides and lprovided with curved ends, supports also formed integral with said sides and opposite to the cut-out portion, a removable shelf having its ends beveled and sliding in the inclined grooves, said shelf also having flanges projecting from one of its faces and adapted to retain the soap thereon, one of said flanges being provided at its ends with extensions adapted to engage with the curved ends of the inwardly-extending lugs to retain the shelf upon said supports, said shelf being `further provided with a drain-spout and also having a locking-notch, and a spring secured to the U-shaped frame and adapted to engage with said locking-notch to retain the shelf in said frame, substantially as set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. l

EMONS H. LOBDELL. W'itnesses: f PORTER EIGHMY, FRANK W. STEEL. 

